Bill could make significant changes to Missouri’s school transfer program

(KPLR) – A bill detailing the future the Missouri school transfer program is one step closer to becoming a reality this morning.

Our partners at the Post-Dispatch are reporting that a House-Senate conference committee has agreed to a bill that could make significant changes to Missouri`s school transfer program.

Both the House and Senate already passed bills changing the transfer law- the conference committee was formed to work out the differences.
According to the Post, here are some of the highlights of the new deal:
– Students would have to attend an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district for one semester before transferring anywhere.

– After that, they could transfer to an accredited building within their own district until all of those slots are full.
– Then, students still wanting to transfer could go to another accredited district or a charter school.
– Students in St. Louis city, St. Louis county and adjoining counties along with Jackson county have one other option. With local voter approval, students could transfer to a private, non-religious school.

In that case, local tax revenue would cover tuition.

Governor Nixon is opposed to this idea known as the ‘private option.’

The Post reports that under this new measure, the districts where transfer students live may provide transportation for the students, but they are not required to.

That would be a substantial change from the way things stand now.

Transfer student tuition costs would be determined by the receiving district.

The compromise measure now heads back to the full Senate and House for another vote.